P lissimore



J. P. LISSIMORE 2,542,282 LABELING MACHINE WITH PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER AND APPLYING MEANS 8 Sheets-81199122 INVENTORZ BY M H15 ATTORNEY Feb; 20, 19-51 I Filed May 10, 1947 20, 1951 .1. P. LISSIMORE 2,542,282

, LABELING MACHINE WITH PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER AND APPLYING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 10, 1947 FIGS.

INVENTOFZ H '5 AT TOFQNEY.

Feb. 20, 1951 J. P. uss iMoRE 2,542,232

LABELING MACHINE WITH PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER AND APPLYING MEANS Filed May 10, 1947 s sheets-sheet 4 I INVENTOFZ TmQ W LW H I S ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1951 J. P. LISSIMORE I LABELING momma: WITH PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER ma APPLYING MEANS Filed May 10, 1947 a Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR' sY Ma H I ATTORNEY:

J. P. LISSIMORE Feb. 20, 1951 A 2,542,282

LABELING MACHINE WITH PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER AND APPLYING MEANS 8 Sheets-Sheet" 6 Filed May 10, 1947 I .INVENTORQ A. TQAM PM H S ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20,' 1951 J. P. LISSIMORE 2,542,282 LABELING mam: wrm PNEUMATIC LABEL 1 TRANSFER AND APPLYING wsms Filed May 10, 1947 8 Sheets-$hqt 7 Flt-344.

H l5 ATTORNEY w Feb. 20, 1951 .1. P. LISSIMORE 2,542,232

. LABELING MACHINE wrm PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER AND APPLYING MEANS v Filed May- 10, L947 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVEN TOR H I 5 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 20, 1951 LABELING MACHINE Wf'rn PNEUMATIC LABEL TRANSFER EANs AND APPLYING John Philip Liss'inmre, Dudley, England Application May 10, 1941, serial No. 747,224

In Great Britain March 16, 1946 section 1, Public Law 690, August 8; 1946 Patent expires March 16, 1966 This invention relates to apparatus for labelling articles.

One object of the present invention is to obtain automatic operation of the apparatus in accord-- ance with the supply of articles fed thereto while so far as possible reducing the number of parts of the apparatus which are necessarily maintained in a continuously moving state during temporary period of idleness e. g. in the intervals between groups of or individual articles fed to the apparatus, thereby economising in driving power and minimising wear in the apparatus so as to increase its life and reliability.

A further object of the invention is to obviate the need for an attendant or special mechanism to time the feed of articles for labelling, or to space them at exact intervals apart on a feed device, or to place them in special feed compartments or carriers in accordance with this object the apparatus being capable of unsyn chronised operation with respect to other apparatus for the pre-treatment of the articles.

A further object is to enable such unsynclironised or spasmodic operation to take place irrespective of substantial variations in the shape or size of articles to be labelled.

The invention has for a further object to in crease the range of variation in size and shape of articles upon which a pneumatic labelling apparatus may be used to affix labels without the necessity of stopping the apparatus for adjustment or for substituting replacement parts.

A further object is in a pneumatic labelling apparatus to reduce to a very small value the loss of suction occasioned by the application of suction to a transfer member prior to engagement of a label thereby while maintaining full suction when the label is positioned on the transfer member.

A further object is to provide a novel form of adhesive applying device in a pneumatic labelling apparatus so constructed as to avoid the risk of stripping of a label from a transfer member upon which the label is held by suction during the adhesive coating operation.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be pointed out or will be apparent from the following description o f preferred embodiments of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a machine for labelling bottles constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same machine Figure 3 is a view in end elevation viewed from 15 Claims. (01. 216-55) the right hand end of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view of the adhesive applying apparatus.

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevational view of the machine along the line 5-5 of Figure 2 viewed from the right hand end of the machine.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevational view of the header boxes from which suction and pressure supplies are conveyed to transfer members,

Figure 7 is a sectional elevational view of a three way valve connecting a transfer member go the suction or pressure sections of the header Figure 8 is a sectional elevational view of a limiter valve.

Figure 9 is a sectional view of a limiter valve along the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing in plan the mechanism whereby micro-switches are operated to cause suction or pressure to be supplied to the transfer members.

Figure 11 is a sectional view in elevation of the magazine for labels.

Figure 12 is a View in front elevation. of a picker box.

Figure 13 is a sectional elevational view of a limiter valve showing an alternative construction.

Figure 14 is a circuit diagram showing the interconnections between the various controlling relays and operating solenoid.

Figure 15 is a wiring diagram.

In the construction illustrated the machine is for labelling bottles by a substantially continuous process in which paper labels are coated with adhesive and aflixed to the sides of the bot-' tles, the apparatus consists of the following four principal parts:

A. A conveyor for through the apparatus.

B. A head mounted for rotary movement and carrying the transfer members, conveniently three in number, which are adapted to receive the labels and apply the same coated with adhesive to the bottle.

0. Apparatus for applying the labels to the transfer members for coating the same with adhesive and for retaining the bottle in the labelling position.

D. An electrical system for controlling the operation of the apparatus, which system is actuated from a photo-electric cell.

conveying the bottles Apparatus A The conveyor 1 is of any conventional type and comprises, for example, a number of spaced slats 2 which are continuously driven horizontally in a straight line and which carry the bottles in turn up to and from the actual labelling apparatus, the conveyor passing over a supporting platform 3 which carries also the other parts of the apparatus.

The conveyor passes around two sprocket wheels 4 at eitherend of the platform 3, one of which is a driving sprocket.

The lower part of the conveyor is supported by a free running wheel or roller 6 mounted on a lower supporting frame 1 which supports the platform 3. 1

The platform 3 and conveyor I are detachable from the lower supporting frame 1 so that different sizes and types of platform and conveyor may be used with the same machine to suit different types of work.

Apparatus B This apparatus comprises a head 8 of substantiall circular form mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and positioned at a higher level than and to one side of the moving belt or platform of the conveyor. is preferably constructed of aluminium or light alloy, is supported upon a shaft 9. The'head has a centre boss it which hasan opening ll threaded internally to engage an external screwthread l2 on the supporting shaft. The lower part 13 of the boss I has an internally threaded opening M of smaller diameter and the internal shoulder l thus formed abuts vagainst the end is of the supporting shaft. A hollow shaft I7 forming an extension of the supporting shaft 9 is screwed into the opening I4 in the lower part- !3 of the boss in and secured by a nut I8.

The head and its supporting shaft are disposed to the rear of the conveyor and the shaft is itself supported in a single journal bearing [9 and by a single thrust bearing in the form of a ball bearing 20.

These bearings are carried by the upper mem ber 2| of an inverted U-shaped frame 22 of channel section disposed to the rear of the conveyor with the arms 23 and 23 of the U and upper centre portion of the U all in a plane approximately parallel to the line of travel of the conveyor.

, Depending from the head at positions spaced equally around it are three transfer members in the form of relatively shallow hollow metal boxes 25, one of the larger faces 26 of each box being flat and directed towards the axis of rotation of the head, and the opposite face 21 be'ng curved to the spherical convex configuration and outwardly directed.

. Eachbox is supported from the lower end of a dependent pipe 23 which serves both as a support for the box and to convey suction or pressure to the interior thereof. The upper end of each pipe. is pivoted between arms as of a bracket secured at or near the outer edge of the head so' that each transfer member can move radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the head. Each transfer member is balanced about its pivotal axis by a combined union nut and balance we'ght 3G.

Each box is conveniently formed as a hollow box-like casting having an opening in the face 26 thereof in which is secured by brazing or welding the end of the pipe 28 so that the pipe can communicate with the interior of the box.

The end of the pipe 23 may be closed by a plate 3| and that part of the pipe which is inside the .box is provided with one or more holes 32 through which air may be expelled into the box or withdrawn from the box. The spherical convex face of the box 21 is provided with a large number of spaced holes 33 of small diameter .which extend through the outwardly directed The head 8, which wall of the box and communicate with the interior thereof.

To the upper end of each pipe 28 is connected a flexible tube34, each tube 34 being connected via a limiter valve 35 to an electrically operated three-wa Valve 36 to which is connected also suction and air pressure sources so that suctionor air pressure can be applied alternatively to each transfer member, thus causing air to be drawn in through or expelled from the small holes 33.

Conveniently, a suitable blower, not shown in the drawings, is provided having a capacity, for example, of 20 cubic feet per minute capable of giving a suction pressure of 10 inches of mercury and a compression pressure of 5 pounds per square inch above atmosphere.

For moving each of the transfer members radially outwards, the head 8 carries on its underside three correspondingly spaced solenoids 3?.

For conveying the electrical supply to operate these solenoids, the head is provided with a set of slip rings 38 supported by a sleeve 39 secured to the boss ID of the head. Individual slip rings are insulated from one another by a carrier 48 of insulating material having circumferential grooves in which individual slip rings are located, the carrier being concentric with the sleeve 39 and spaced therefrcm by a bush 4!, of insulating material. Passageways extending axially down the bush may be provided so that electrical connecting wires can pass along them for connection to the interior part of the slip rings 38. Stationary brushes 42 bear upon the slip rings for the purpose of conveying the electrical supply thereto. Five slip rings are provided, one of which is common to all circuits, another of each conveys the electrical supply for operating simultaneously each of the thre 'solenoids 37 for displacing each of the transfer members radially outwards and the other three of which carry electrical supplies for operating solenoids associated with the three-way valves 36.

For rotating the head 8 and the transfer members carried thereon, an electric motor 43 is provided. The motor drives the head through the worm gearing 44 and a sprocket chain 45 passing around two sprocket wheels, one 46 keyed on a common shaft with the worm wheel 4? and the other 48 keyed on to the shaft 3 which drives 7 the head. A magnetic clutch 49'is interposed between the driving motor 43 and the worm gearing 44 so that the drive from the motor may be connected to and disconnected from the head as desired. Further, keyed to the shaft 3 and located immediately below the sprocket 48 is a disc 58. The disc has radial slots 5| cut in its periphery spaced angularly around the periphery at intervals. The disc 59 and hence the head 8 may be located in one of three angularly spaced positions by the co-operation of a pawl 52 which is mounted to be engageable in any one of the slots 5!. The pawl 52 is pivoted at one end and connected at the other end to the spring 53 m which tends to p'ress the pawl against therim of the disc 58 so that it engages with one of the slots when this is opposite the pawl. The pawl can be withdrawn from engagement with a slot so that it is clear of the rim of the disc 58 by means of a solenoid 54. 1

In moving between its two operative positions the pawl actuates a micro-switch it? having two pairs of contacts, the purpose of the switch will be later described. 7

' Owing to the comparatively-high moment of inertia of the rotatable head a device is provided for sliding the retardation of the head when a slot ii is just approachingthe pawl 5i. and is about to become engaged therewith. The said device takes the form of a trianguar shaped cam 55 keyed to the shaft ii upon whose triangular cam surface bears a plunger 56 spring loaded to move in an inward radial direction and in connection with the piston of a dashpot Ml so that its outward radial motion is opposed. The triangular cam is so positioned that the spring loaded plunger bears upon the corners of the triangular cam when the pawl 52 is in engagement with slots 5!. The corners of thetriangular cam are rounded somewhat and the spring loaded plunger 56 may be provided with a roller 5? which bears upon the cam surface.

In order to assist further the retarding of the head, a magnetic-ally operated brake M9 is provided comp-rising a contractable band ltd which, when the brake is operated, engages the outer periphery of a drum to l.

The other end of the plunger 56 is connected to a lever Hit, the end of which engages a further lever 653 for operating a micro-switch lo l for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the magnetic clutch and the magnetic brake.

Conveniently the pressure and suction supplies to the three-way valve 36 may be connected from the blower to header boxes 58 and 59. The lower header box til which conveys suction consists of a cylindrical member til having axially spaced inwardly directed flanges ii I, the interior surfaces of which closely engage the hollow shaft l'i. Between the two flanges t l the member to is en closed in an annular space 62 which is connected to the suction source by means of a pipe '33 screwed into an opening in the wall of the member 63 communicating with the annular space 552. At a position opposite the said annular space the hollow shaft ill is provided with two holes fit so that the interior of. the shaft is in connection with the suction source and a further pipe $5 in communication with the interior of th hollow shaft ll is connected to the hollow shaft ll at a position above both header boxes. The member til and the pipe 63 are stationary and the hollow shaft ll rotates with the head 8. Effective sealing between shaft ll and the stationary member 6B is provided by suitable seals 66.

The upper header box 58 comprises a hollow cylindrical member 5'5 having inwardly directed flanges 58 which engages the external surface of the hollow shaft ll, and the whole member El rotates with the hollow shaft ll. Around the member 6? is provided another cylindrical member 69 similar in construction o the cylindrical member lid of the lower header box and performing a similar function with respect to the member the interior or the member 67. A further pipe 73 positioned above the member 69 communicates with the interior of the member 69. The pipe 73 and the member s? rotate with the head 8 and the member 58 and the pipe is are stationary. Effective sealing between rotating members and the stationary members is provided by packing pieces i i similar to those already described.

The pipe 35 conveying suction is connected to a ring pipe l5 disposed beneath the header boxes and concentric with the axis of the shaft 9. From this ring pipe l5 connection with the threeway valves tt'may' be made by pipes such as that shown at it. The pipe l3 conveying pressure is connected to a similar ring pipe ll which is in turn connected to the three-way valves 36 by pipes such as that shown at 18.

Between each transfer member and the suction and pressure source is included a three-way valve 36. There are two inlet connections to each said valve and these are joined to pipes "l6 conveying suction and f8 conveying pressure. The outlet connection from the valve is to pipe 79 which, depending upon the position of the valve, conveys either suction or pressure via the limiter valve 35 to the transfer members.

The three-way valve 36 comprises an outer hollow cylindrical body til having axially spaced inlet openings BI and 22 to which the pipes it and ill respectively are connected. The member 85 is closed at one end by a cap 83 and at the other end by a flexible diaphragm 84. Disposed inside the member as and concentric therewith is the further hollow cylindrical member 85 open at both ends. The member 85 has a pair of axially spaced outwardly directed circular flanges 26 and it? which engage the inner surface of the member Sil closely so as to prevent the leakage of air between the said flanges and the said surface and are secured to the member 89 by soldering thereto and by screws 88. Concentric with the axis of the cylindrical members 80 and is a rod 89 slidable axially in a bearing 9B in the cap 83 at one end and extending at the other end through the flexible diaphragm Bil, this last said end being in operative connection with a solenoid 5!. The rod 89 carries two piston-like members 92 and as spaced along the rod 89, one of which, 92, in one position of the rod closes one open end of the member 85 and the other of which Sit, in another position of the rod closes the other open end of the member 35 Both piston members 92 and 93 are of smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the member 88 so that air can pass freely around them from one side to the other but of larger diameter than the internal diameter of the member 85 so that they can seal the open ends thereof completely. For effective sealing of the ends of the member 85 each of the piston-like members 92 and 93 may include rings 94 of soft material such as leather, rubber or suitable material disposed to engage the ends of the member 85.

In one position of the rod 89 as shown in Figure '7 the piston-like member 92 seals the end of the member 85 thus shutting off all connection between the pipe l6 and the interior of the member 85. The piston-like member 931 however, is, in this position, clear of the other end of the member 85, the interior of which is thus in communication with the pipe 18 and air under pressure is conveyed thereto. In another position of the rod 88, not shown, the piston-like member 92 may be clear of the end of the member 85 and the piston-like member as may close the other end,the rod being retained in this position by the action of a spring I 48. In this case the interior of the member 85 is connection with pipe I6 and is subject to suction. Theposition of the rod 89 is controlled by the solenoid 91 which ensures that it is positioned in one of the two positions described.

In order to convey suction or air pressure from the interior of the member 85 to the outlet pip-e I0, holes 95 are provided extending through the wall of the member 85 intermediate the flanges 06 and 8! and the pipe I9 is connected to the member 80 so as to communicate with the annular space 96. a

The rod 89 is threaded and the piston-like members 02 and 93 are likewise provided with internal threads for engagement with that of the rod so that their axial positions may be carefully adjusted for efiicient operation of the valve, They are secured in position by lock nuts 91. Sealing between the rod 89 and the diaphragm 84 is effected by two washer-like members 98 which clamp the diaphragm 84 between them.

The spring I48 is sufilciently strong to operate the valve and cause it to move into the suction supplying position against the weight of the rod and armature of the solenoid 9i and against the excess pressure on the interior of the diaphragm 84 and the washers 98 but is not so strong as to be incapable of subsequent compres- Z provided between each three-way valve 36 and its associated transfer member in order to reduce loss of suction at times when the transfer member is connected to the source of suction but no label is in engagement therewith. Di one form the limiter valve comprises a hollow cylindrical body 99 having an inlet opening or port into which the pipe I9 is connected so as to communicate with the interior. One end of the limiter valveis connected to a second pipe 3 5 connected at the other end of the transfer member. The pipe 34 is connected through an outlet opening or port in the end cap I of the limiter valve. The limiter valve includes another member' IOI of bobbin-like form having two out wardly directed axially spaced circular flanges I02 and M33. The first of these flanges I02 is threaded round its external periphery and closes the other end of the member 99 which is provided with an internal thread for engagement therewith The second flange I03 is of external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the member 99 and is disposed inside the member 90 in a piston-like manner forming a partition in the body 99. The pipe I9 communicates with the annular space enclosed between the two flanges I03 and I02. The flange I83 is provided with a number of axial holes I04 extending through it, and a disc-like member or valve head I05 provided with similar holes I06 is disposed against the side of the flange I03 remote from the flange I02. The disc-like member can slide axially so that it is either against the face of the flange I03 or spaced therefrom by a small distance; it is guided for this motion by pins I0? extending through suitable axial holes I08 in the disc and secured in the flange I83, and by a central pin I09. The disc is spring loaded by a light spring IIO retained on the pin I09 so that the disc is normally spaced from the flange I03. The holes I06 in the disc are disposed so that they are out of register with the similar holes I04 in the flange I03.

When suction is applied to the pipe I9 andrno label impedes the inward flow of air through the holes 33 in the transfer members, a considerable current of air flows into the limiter. valve through the'pipe 34. Since the holes I04 and I06 are not in register the air has to take a tortuous path through the disc I05 and the flange I03 before reaching the pipe I9. Under such conditions there is a considerable thrust acting on the outer surface of the disc I05 and this is moved axially thereby against the action of the spring IIO so that the holes I04 in the flange I63 are sealed. The pipe I9 is therefore only in such communication with the atmosphere as is occasioned by leakage between the flange I03 and the disc I05, and loss of suction is prevented or reduced.

The sealing action of the disc I05 is maintained only through the inward fiow of air through the pipe'34 and thus when a transfer member has a label engaged on its surface the flow of air is in any case reduced and insufficient for the limiter valve to come into operation.

Thus the limiter valve has little or no effect in reducing the suction available at the transfer members for retaining labels thereon. Even when the limiter valve is in action there is sufficient leakage through it to cause a small intake of air through the small holes 33 in the pickers so that when a transfer member is adjacent or in contact with a label the suction is suiflcient to attract the label on to the transfer member.

An alternative construction of limiter valve is shown in Figure 13; this comprises a hollow cylindrical body formed in two parts I55 and IE5 supporting a concentric annular partition I5'I, the upper surface of this seating is provided with an annular partition ring I58 of rubber or other suitable material on to which may be drawn by an action similar to that already described a movable disc or valve head I59 having a downwardly directed peripheral flange I60 for contact 'with the seating ring and connection is made to the limiter valve by pipes I6I leading to the three-way valve and a pipe I62 leading to the transfer member associated with the limiter.

valve, one or more small holes I63 are provided in the disc I50 in order to ensure a sufllcient degree of leakage through the valve when in its closed position to enable the transfer members to extract a label from the magazine, the limiter valve is preferably mounted so that its axis is vertical or approximately so to avoid any tendency towards sticking.

The pipe 28 supporting each transfer member carries a collar II I for actuating one of three vertically spaced micro-switches II2 Figure 10, through one of three vertically spaced levers II3 pivoted on a common pivot IM to a member II5 secured to the U-shaped frame member 24. The collars of each transfer member are disposed at different levels so that each transfer member operates a different one of the three levers I I3 and hence a different micro-switch I I2 for a purpose to be later described. Adjusting screws I64 are provided on the end of each lever II3 to enable the position at which the transfer members operate their associated micro-switch to be adjusted to obtain the best results in operation.

The transfer member and its supporting pipe 23 is normally retained in a retracted position by a spring H6. The operating solenoid 31 for displacing the transfer members outwardly acts upon the pipe 28 through a dependent lever arm II'I carrying a roller H8, the position of which is adjusted by a screw and nut I I9.

Apparatus C One part of this apparatus comprises a magazine for labels illustrated in Figure 11. The magazine comprises a box-like container I28 for the labels I 2I, open at the top and at each end and supported upon a bracket I22 clamped upon a rod I23 extending from the frame of the machine.

The labels I2I are packed in the box and a pressure plate I24 spring loaded by a spring I 25 bears against one end of the pack and tends to expel the labels from one of the open ends of the box. The labels are prevented from expulsion by small hook-like members I 26 which retain the pack but which will permit a single label to be withdrawn from the pack after it is curled slightly and urged out of the box.

The magazine is disposed so that the outermost label retained by the hooks I23 is presented to the convex face of a transfer member.

When the transfer member is moved outwardly through the action of solenoid 31, its face 2I is brought into contact with the said outermost label which, by reason of the suct on applied at that time to the interior of the transfer memr her, is curled slightly into en agement with the face 2! and withdrawn from the magazine when the transfer member is retracted. The peripheral edges or each transfer member have reces'se's I2! at positions corresponding with the hooks I26 to permit the convex face of each transfer member to be engaged c osely with the outermost label when the transfer member is opposite to the magazine and when it is moved outwardly in relation to the head.

Another part of this apparatus comprises a device for applying adhesive to labels which are engaged on and carried by the transfer memb'er's. This device is illustrated in Fgure 4 and comprises a flexible endless perforated band or belt I28 which passes round two pulleys I29 and I38 rotating about axes which are parallel and spaced vertically one above the other. The upper pulley I29 is driven from the" lower part of the shaft 8 by means of a belt I3I and pulleys I32 and I33, the latter being keyed to the shaft 9 and the former driving one I34 of a pair of bevel gears, the other I35 of which is mounted on a CGITIHIOII shaft with a pulley I29. The band I28 thus travels round the pulleys or is stationary in synchronism with the movements of the head 8.

The lower of the two pulleys I38 is partly immersed in a trough I33 containing a suitable adhesive, so that the outwardly directed surface of the band I23 becomes coated therewith. The trough I36 is supportedupon a bracket I31, itself secured to one of the frame members of the machine.

The adhesive applying device is disposed so that the surface of the band I28 which is coated with adehsive is engaged by a label carried on a transfer member when this is moved outwardly through the action of its operating solenoid 37.

A casing I65 is provided and this extends around the band I28 except for a suitably positioned opening I66 through which the transfer member and its associated label move to engage the band,. the casing. thus prevents the inad- Vertent distribution of adhesive to the moving 10 parts of the machine. A flexibly mounted window serves to restrict the area of application of adhesive to a selected portion of the label surface.

A further part of apparatus C is a bottle arresting and barrier mechanism for the purpose of arresting and positioning a bottle on the conveyor preparatory to the operations in which a label is applied thereto.

This mechanism comprises a lever arm I38 pivoted at one end on a vertical axis and carrying at the other end a bottle arresting and barrier member I39 having a V-shaped notch, the inwardly directed edges of which engage the bottle. One edge I48 may have a straight edge and the other edge MI may be curved outwardly towards the open end of the V or the notch may have two straight edges, the outer one of wh ch diverges from the edge 45! at :a greater angle than the inner one so that the 'V-shaped notch is thereby adapted conven ently to engage the sides of bottles of varying diameters, and secure the same accurately in the labelling position, with their axes lying always in the same plane perpendicular to the conveyor track.

The lever arm I38 and the bottle arresting and barrier member I39 are normally clear of the conveyor I and disposed on that side of it which is remote from the head 8- andthe pickers and is spring loaded to be retained in this position by a spring M2. The lever arm I38 and the bottle arresting and barrier member I39 are operated for arresting bottles through the action of the solenoid I43 and the bell crank lever IN. The roller M5- of the bell crank lever bears against one side of the lever arm I38 and causes this to be deflected about its pivoted end so that the bottle arresting and barrier member I39 swings over the conveyor and engages a bottle between the surfaces of the V-sha'ped notch and a retaining block or abutment member I46 lo cated on the other side of the conveyor, to prevent continu'ed feed of remaining unlabelled articles to' the labelling position.

The bottle arresting and barrier mechanism, the adhesive applying apparatus, and the magazine for the labels are spaced angularly round the head at 128 intervals so that whie one of the transfer members is applying a label to a bottle arrested by the bottle gripping mechanism', another of the transfer members is withdrawing a fresh label from the magazine and another of the transfer members already carrying a label has this coated with adhesive by the adhesive applying apparatus.

The operations of arresting a bottle, displac ing the transfer members radially outwards, applying labels to a bottle and withdrawing a label from the magazine are all controlled by electrical means and the intermittent rotation of the" head 8 and the repetition of the cycle of op erations' is likewise similarly controlled.

Apparatus D Before describing the arrangement and operation of the electrical system it will be convenient to describe first of all the sequence of operations of the apparatus as set forth above.

Bottles for labelling are placed upon the conveyor I at or near the left hand end thereof as specified by reference to Figure 1. The bottles are conveyed by the conveyor travelling from left to right until one bottle interrupts the light beam directed from lamp I46 on to the photoelectric cell I 31, This interruption of light causes the photo-electric cell to actuate the'bottle ar resting and barrier mechanism which arrests and positions the bottle in the position as shown at I48. The side of the bottle remote from the arresting and barrier member I39 thus presses against the block I46 and against a micro-switch operating plunger I 49 projecting therefrom, and closes the associated micro-switch contacts.

The head 8 will be either in such a position that the pawl 52 is engaged with a slot M with the result that a transfer member carrying an adhesive coated label by suction is opposite the arrested and positioned bottle and the other two transfer members opposite the magazine and the adhesive applying apparatus respectively, or will be moving and will automatically assume such position by engagement of the pawl 52 in the next approaching slot When the head is in the position described, the closing of the said micro-switch contacts causes the three transfer members through energising of operating solenoids 3'! to be moved radially outwards pivoting about their pivotal mountings in brackets 29. so that one transfer member box approaches the arrested and positioned bottle, another transfer member box carrying a label by suction approaches the endless band I28 of the adhesive a plying device bringing the label into contact therewith, and the other transfer member box approaches and is brought into contact with the outermost label of the magazine.

The outward motion of that transfer member box opposite the arrested and positioned bottle causes the collar I II on the supporting pipe 28 to actuate one of the three lever arms H3 thus a closing the contacts of one of the three microswitches H2.

turn under the influence of springs H5 to the retracted position, the three-Way valve supplying air under pressure to the transfer member which has just performed a labelling operation returning after a further short interval to its previous condition wherein it re-connects the transfer member to the suction source.

Concurrently with the retraction of the pickers the pawl 52 is withdrawn by its solenoid 54 from the slot 5! in which it is engaged so that the head is then free to rotate. The arresting and barrier mechanism solenoid is also de-energised and the labelled bottle released so that it is conveyed away by the conveyor.

After a further short interval the magnetic clutch 49 is engaged, the brake released, and the head is driven from the motor 43.

The head now rotates until the pawl, which after a small rotational movement of the head, has been released by the solenoid 54 so as to bear by spring pressure against the rim of the disc 56, engages in the next slot, the brake being applied and the magnetic clutch 49 being disengaged just prior to the said next slot reaching the pawl engaging the position so that the head which then brought almost to rest before the slot is so engaged. Another bottle is brought by the conveyor to a position in register with the labelling station and the cycle of operations is repeated.

For determining the sequence of operations and the relative timing of each operation in a com plete cycle the actuation of the solenoids referred to in the previous description is controlled by a number of electrical relays having "operating coils and contacts appropriately interconnected.

The relays are housed in a casing I64 which may be located'on the machine in any suitable position, for instance, secured to the frame member 24 with its base level with the conveyor I. With referenceto Figure 15 the relays A, B, D, F, T, G, W, P, H, L, M, N, and those components associated with them on the same side of the broken line X-X are included within the casing 154 while those components on the other side of the broken line are distributed on the machine in positions already described.

For explanatory purposes the electrical connections to the relays and the various operating solenoids are shown in Figure 14 in a circuit diagram of the type usually termed schematic, with the contacts operated by a relay removed on the circuit diagram from the vicinity of the operating coil of the relay and placed conveniently near that relay operating coil or operating solenoid on which the said contacts are effective. Each relay operating coil has a characteristic reference letter, for convenience followed by a figure indicating the number of pairs of contacts operated by the relay coil, and the contacts thus operated are designated by the characteristic letter of their associated relay followed by a distinguishing number.

The relay system can be regarded broadly as comprising five primary relays A, B, D, F, and T whose function is to control the seouence and timing of operations and seven secondary relavs G, W, P, L, M, N, H whose function is to energise or de-energise the various operating solenoids.

The mode of operation. can readily be understood by tracing the sequence of relay operation in a complete cycle of operations of the machine.

The initial position of the relays will be assumed to be that shown in Fi ure 14 that is the position adopted when the head is stationary, the pawl 52 is engaged in one of the slots 5| and a bottle is approaching the labellin station.

When the bott e reaches such a position that it interrupts the light beam between the lamp M6 and the photo-electric cell MT contacts a and c on the photo-electric cell are closed and relay F is operated. Contacts F2 are made, relay G is operated closin contacts GI and the solenoid I43 is actuated thus causing the bottle to be arrested and positioned at the labelling station.

Simultaneously, with the operation of relay F contacts FI are closed and condenser Cl becomes charged to the voltage of the supply.

As the bottle is arrested and positioned it depresses plunger I59 and the associated microswitch contacts SI are made. Relay A is thus connected across condenser CI, operated, contacts AI and A4 open, and contacts A2, A3 and A5 close. The opening of contacts AI thus disconnects the relay A and condenser Cl from the supply, the relay continuing to be retained in the operated position by the discharge of condenser CI, through its operating coil. 7

Contacts A2 being closed ensure continued connection of .relay A across condenser CI independently of contacts SI and thus independently 13 of any slight movement of the bottle during later operations.

The closing of contacts A operates relay P thus actuating the transfer member deflecting solenoids 3'! and causing the transfer members to be moved radially outwards. In such outward travel the collar III on that transfer member supporting pipe 28 associated with the transfer member opposite the arrested and positioned bottle actuates one of the micro-switches H2 through one of the levers H3 thus closing one pair of micro-switch contacts SL, SM or SN. (Say for example SL.) Relay L is thus operated closing contacts L2 and actuating one of the three-way valves GI causing the transfer member to be supplied with air under pressure and directing the label on to the bottle.

Simultaneously with the closing of contacts A5, contacts A3 are closed operating relay B. Contacts Bl are opened and contacts B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6 are closed. Contacts B3 closed across contacts F2 and make the action of the arresting and barrier member independent thereof.

Contacts B4, B5, B5, when thus closed, render the continued actuation of one of the three-way valves solenoid 9| independent of micro-switch contacts SL, SM, SN by virtue of the closing of one of the pairs of contacts Ll, Ml or N1 (in the case Ll through the operation of relay L as already described). The purpose is to ensure that the transfer member opposite the bottle shall continue to be supplied with air even after, later in the cycle of operations, it return to its retracted position, there being thus no tendency for it to suck the label from the bottle.

The labelling operation having been completed the subsequent operations of pawl retraction, head rotation and arresting and barrier member release are effected in the following manner.

As previously described contacts A4 are open and contacts B2 are closed. When, however, the voltage across condenser Cl falls to a certain value relay A returns to its non-operated position and contacts AI and A4 close, A2, A3, A5 open.

Reclosing of contacts A4 operates relay D, closing contacts DI which serve to render the continued operation of relay D independent of the condition of contacts A4 and B2, and closing contacts D2 thus operating relay W and closing contacts Wt to actuate the pawl retraction sole noid 54, thereby closing contacts SC2 and opening contacts SCI of a micro-switch operated by the pawl.

The opening of contacts A5 de-energises relay P and the transfer members return to the retracted position.

The operation of relay W also closes contacts W2 thus relay T operates when contacts SC2 close as previously described. Contacts Ti and T3 open and contacts T2 and T4 close.

The closing of contacts T2 operates relay H thus making contacts HI energising the solenoid $65 of the magnetic brake and releasing the brake and likewise energising the magnetic clutch 49 causing the head 8 to be rotated. After a small sector of rotation the contacts ST of micro-switch I45 are closed and since contacts Ts are already closed contacts T4 and ST in series render the retention of relay T in its operated position independent of contacts W2.

The breaking of contacts T3 causes the gripper to release the bottle so that it moves along under the action of the conveyor, clears the photo-elem 'tric cell light beam and contacts a and 0, opens oil 14 de-energising relay F and breaking contacts FI and F2.

The breaking of contacts TI causes eventual de-energisation of relay D (on discharge of condenser C3 with resultant return of relay W to its non-operated condition breaking of contacts VW and W2 and release of the pawl so that it bears against the edge of the then rotating disc 5%.

Since contact A3 has been opened by the deenergisation of relay A as previously described, rela B is no longer connected to the supply and after an interval of time returns to its non-operated position, this interval depending upon the discharge rate of condenser C2. Contacts Bl thus close and contacts B2, B3, B4, B5 and B6 open.

Contacts B4, B5 and 5 being open, the picker previously supplied with air under pressure is reconnected to the suction source by the reversion of the associated three-way valve to its initial position (in this case through the de-energisation of relay L).

When the head rotates to such a position that the micro-switch contacts ST are again opened, relay T is de-energised and contacts Ti and T3 close and contacts T2 and T4 open, the opening of T2 being at once effective in disengaging the magnetic clutch and applying the magnetic brake to retard the head in readiness for engagement of the next approaching slot 5i by the pawl 52. When this event occurs the machine and relays are again in their initial position for the start of a fresh cycle of operations.

The rate of feed of bottles by the conveyor is arranged to be such that during each cycle relay T has returned to its non-operated condition before a fresh bottle actuates the photo-electric cell. Contact T3 is thus closed and the bottle will, even if the pawl is not yet in the slot, be arrested and positioned at the labelling station by reason of the operation of relay G through closed con tacts T3 and F2 when the photo-electric cell light beam is interrupted. This represents a possible variation on the sequence of events just described, but is not a variation affecting the correct operation of the apparatus.

The micro-switches are of the snap action type. The values of condensers Cl, C2 and C3 and re sistances RI, R2, R3 and R4 are chosen to give the desired time between operation and return of relays A, B and D to their non-operated positions after disconnection from the electrical suppl line.

Condensers C5 to C! l and resistances R5 to RI l are for reducing sparking at the contacts across which they are connected and may have any suitable values for this purpose.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for labelling articles, comprising in combination, a transfer member provided with a label engaging face having at least one opening, an adhesive applying device, a magazine for containing labels, means for moving lie transfer member between the magazine, the adhesive applying device and labelling station, a device for supplying selectively pneumatic suction through said opening to retain a label in said face or pressure through said opening to project a label away from said face onto an article, control means oneratively associated with the last said device adapted to determine the h ire of the supply furnished (that is suction or pressure) in. accordance with the position of the transfer member, a conveyor for conveying articles in succession to the labelling station; and means responsive to the passage whilst on the conveyor of each article to initiate automatically a single cycle of operations of the apparatus, said responsive means including a device having a field of article detection extending across the whole width of the conveyor whereby said responsive means is operable by each of said articles irrespective of substantial variations in the lateral position occupied thereby on the conveyor.

2. In an apparatus for labelling articles, the combination of a conveyer for conveying articles to a labelling station said conveyer being adapted to be driven continuously and having an article supporting face engaging frictionally with the articles to provide tractive effort therefor, with an article arresting and barrier member adapted to move laterally across the conveyer at the labelling station from an inoperative to an operative position, said member having a notched forward end for engaging the sides of the leading article and a barrier face extending in the operative position of said member laterally across the conveyer in advance of the portion thereof in register with said labelling station, so as to bar the passage of remaining unlabelled articles to the labelling station, electrically controlled means operatively associated with said member for moving same between its inoperative and operative positions, article responsive means comprising a photo-electric cell positioned in the path of a controlling ray therefor which intersects the path of articles, electrical conductor means connected between said photo-electric cell and said electrically controlled means for conveying controlling electrical impulses to the latter for initiating a single cycle of operations of the apparatus including preliminar actuation of said arresting and barrier member, and an abutment member positioned at the labelling station opposite said notched end and having means thereon adapted to actuate electrical switch contacts in response to movement of an article guided by said notched end against said means, said switch contacts being connected in an electrical circuit including electrical means adapted to control continued performance of operations in a single cycle of operations of the machine.

3. In an apparatus for labelling articles, the combination of a conveyer for conveying articles to a labelling station said conveyer adapted to be driven continuously and having an article supporting face engaging frictionally with the articles to provide tractive effort therefor, with an article arresting and barrier member, electrically controlled means operatively associated with said member for moving same laterally across the conveyer at the labelling station from an inoperative to an operative position, article responsive means comprising a photo-electric cell positioned in the path of a controlling ray therefor which intersects the path of articles, and electrical conductor means connected between said photoelectric cell and said electrically controlled means for conveying controlling electrical impulses to the latter for initiating actuation of said arresting and barrier member.

4. In an apparatus for labelling articles, the combination of a conveyer for conveying articles to a labelling station, said conveyer adapted to be driven continuously and having an article supporting face engaging frictionally with the articles I tion from an inoperative to an operative position, said member having a notched forward end for engaging the sides of the leading article and a barrier face extending, in the operative position of said member, laterally across the conveyer in advance of the portion thereof in register with said labelling station, so as to bar the feed of remaining unlabelled articles to the labelling station, and article responsive means adapted to initiate a single cycle of operations of the apparatus including actuation of said arresting and barrier member.

5. In an apparatus for labelling articles, the combination of a conveyer for conveying articles to a labelling station, said conveyer adapted to be driven continuously and having an article supporting face engaging frictionally with the articles to provide tractive effort therefor, with an article arresting and barrier member adapted to move laterally across the conveyer at the labelling station from an inoperative to an operative position, said member having means to engage and locate the leading article at the labelling station and means to bar the passage of remaining unlabelled articles to the labelling station, and responsive means adapted to initiate a single cycle of operations of the apparatus including actuation of said arresting and barrier member.

6. In an apparatus for labelling articles, the combination of a conveyer for conveying articles to a labelling station said conveyer being adapted to be driven continuously and having an article supporting face engaging frictionall with the articles to provide tractive effort therefor, with means for arresting each article in succession at the labelling station and for preventing the delivery of further articles thereto while the arrested article is in position thereat, and responsive means adapted to initiate a single cycle of operations of the apparatus including actuation of said arresting and preventing means.

7. In apparatus for labelling articles in combination a supporting structure a plurality of transfer members supported therefrom for rotation around a common axis each transfer member being provided with a label engaging face having at least one opening, an adhesive-applying device, a magazine for containing labels, means for moving the transfer member between the magazine, the adhesive applying device and. a labelling station, a device for selectively supplying pneumatic suction through said opening to retain a label on said face, or pneumatic pressure to project a label away from said face onto an article at the labelling station, said transfer members being spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, means yieldable to the resistance offered to the outward movement of the transfer member at the labelling station by an article thereat, for moving said transfer member outwardly from said axis of rotation.

8. In an apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied through trans-- fer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are'delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the transfer members, a rotary head, a plurality of transfer members supported therefrom b means of pivotally mounted and dependent hollow arms adapted to convey the required suction and pressure to their associated transfer members, the pivotal mounting axis of each arm being sub- 17 stantially tangential to a pitch circle-centered on the axis of rotation of the head, said transfer memberslbeing spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, means yieldable to resistance offered to outward movement the transfer members by an article at the labelling station, by a label pack in the magazine, and by the adhesive applying device respectively for moving the arms outwardly from said axis of rotation when the transfer members are registered respectively with the magazine, the adhesive applying device and the labelling station and control means adapted to be operated b the outward movement of the arm at the labelling station to change the nature of the sup- -ply furnished to theassociated transfer member from suction topressure.

' 9. In an apparatus for labelling articl'swherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied'through transfer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the transfer members, a rotary head, a plurality of adhesive applying device and the labelling station, and control means adapted to be operated by the outward movement of the arms at the labelling station to change the nature of the supply furnished to the associated transfer member from suction to pressure.

10. In an apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied through transfer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the transfer members, a rotary head, a plurality of transfer members supported therefrom, said transfer members being spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, means yieldable to resistance ofiered to outward movement of the transfer members by an article at the labelling station, by a label pack in the magazine and by the adhesive applying device respectively for moving said transfer members outwardly from said axis of rotation when the transfer members are registered respectively with the magazine, the adhesive applying device and the labelling station, and control means adapted to be operated by the outward movement of the transfer member at the labelling station to change the nature of the supply furnished to said transfer member from suction to pressure.

,9 11. In an apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of neumatic suction applied through transfer members, moved by the latter to adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the'transfer members, a rotary head, a plurality of transfer members, supported therefrom said transfer members being spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, and means yieldable to resistance offered to outward movement of the transfer members by an article at the labelling station, by a label pack in the magazine and by the adhesive applying device respectively for moving said transfer members outwardly from said axis of rotation when the transfer members are registered respectively with the magazine, the adhesive applying device and the labelling station.

12. In an' apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels areextracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied through transfer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at whichthey are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the transfer members, a supporting structure, a plurality of transfer members rotatabl mounted thereon, said transfer members being spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, and means yieldable to the resistance offered to the outward movement of the transfer member at the labelling station by an article thereat, for moving said transfer member outwardly from said axis of rotation.

13. In an apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied through transfer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the tranefer members, a rotary head, a plurality of transfer members supported therefrom, said transfer members being spaced apart at equal angular intervals around said axis of rotation, means yieldable to resistance offered to outward movement of the transfer members by an article at the labelling station, by a label pack in the magazine and by the adhesive applying device respectively for moving said transfer members outwardly from said axis of rotation when the transfer members are registered respectivel with the magazine, the adhesive applying device and the labelling station, control means adapted to be operated by the outward movement of the transfer members at the labelling station and the magazine respectively to change the nature of the supply furnished to said transfer members from suction to pressure and vice versa, a suction reservoir common to all said transfer members, and, operatively connected between said reservoir and the transfer members limiter valves for restricting the loss of suction from said reservoir when suction is applied to a transfer member and no label is retained thereon.

14. In an apparatus for labelling articles wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with the aid of pneumatic suction applied through transfer members, moved by the latter to an adhesive applying device for coating the labels with adhesive, and moved subsequently to a labelling station at which they are delivered onto articles by means of pneumatic pressure applied through the transfer members, an adhesive apswear-m gal-fine ole zieeecempnisineedeel zslmmrtinees m tune, ea ne fo ated flexible endless lhelt :ee'rried th reby ha ng imrtien xne ition s "w thin 11 :centain or;asz hesiveendiasfeq -p ti n-a apted fgrqengagement with a label earried en a trans- {er:nmemberpositioned! in register Withsaid belt, and. means fondriving-said belt intermittentl-y.

15. iln an apparatus ,for labelling --artic1es wherein labels are extracted from a magazine with-the aid of; pneumatic ;-sucti,on applied through itransfer members, moved by the latter to in-adhesive a pplying device ,f or; coating the labels with ,adhesive, end moved :subsequently to a labelling zstation Fat which they are; delivered 101150 articles hylmeansfi ;nnenma pressur "applied-thr ugh lik transfer -.member$,,-.en eedh 1 app yin :de-

vice comprising a belt ,slgppqrfiixiigstructure, en endless r ve lin elt arried thereby a p rtion pf which s,ptositionedewithinleeonta n r tonedrh Qua M 13 fac mr ion eds-pied for @eneae ,,mentwith a,:1ab1 -,ca,r -riedon a transfer member positioned in register with said-belt, and means gipr driving said-beltintermittently, the beltbeing -:c -:haracteris ed,in that it :hasrpassageway-s for the admission of atmospheric air =to the face of ca "The following references are :of re'sord file'of this patent:

UNITED term-Es PATENTS in the 

